Emerging Technology- Interwrite Pad

Interwrite Pad designed by eInstruction. This new technology allows teachers to teach interactive lessons from anywhere in the classroom. Up to seven pads can be used in one classroom and are easy to use. The pad uses electromagnetic digitizing technology which equips the pad with high resolution capiblities and handwriting recognition.

Every purchase of an Interwrite Pad comes with the Interwrite Workspace software which, according to the product website, allows teachers to use the pad to "annotate, highlight or make notes over any computer program." Teachers can use this to help students identify key passages in English assignments, or if multiple Pads were avalible, students could work collectively on a project and immediatly see their results.

Still want more information? Click HERE to visit the product website.

Educational Podcast- June Kjome

This month we have been learning about women who have made significant contributions to our society. While those great women we have studied like Amelia Erhart and Eleanor Roosevelt are extremely important, we must also remember that others have made significant contributions, but may not be well known.

I would like you all to listen to this interview with June Kjome. This podcast comes from the project called "The Road She Traveled" that highlights women who contributed to establishing the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin. As you listen write down four interesting facts, and after listening I would like you each to write a paragraph in which you reflect on how something June Kjome said or did and apply it to your own lives.

For extra credit you may visit the website below and write 6-8 sentences about June Kjome's life. This will be worth 10 points.


Podcast interview with June Kjome click HERE

Assistive Technology

Here is a new technology for you to explore. In class this week we discussed what it would be like to be a student with a disablity, and several of you asked for examples of assitive technologies. This is a Lightwriter® SL40, which converts text to speech and is lightweight and durable. One of the great features of the Lightwriter® SL40 is its ablity to make communication more efficient because the vocabulary of the device can expand. Based on the user's word choice the Lightwriter® SL40 can make predictions about what the user wants to say which "significantly reduces the number of keystrokes required" according to the manufacturers and this can benefit people who have difficluties typing, spelling or completing words.

This new technology could be useful for those with poor eyesight, who have trouble reading small text, or are auditory learners. I would like each of my students to visit www.tobii.com and find one other assistive technology that they find interesting. Be prepared to share what you discover in class.

Citizenship

Here is a game to help you practice your Euopean countries. Don't forget your quiz will be matching and you will need to know all the countries we listed in class.

Geography Game: Europe

This video will introduce you to our U.S. Hisory class and provide a brief overview of what we will be covering this semester. The first song lists all fifty states in alphabetical order. We will be learning the states this semester, and you may find this song helpful. The Camp Rock videos will introduce several eras of U.S. History. Please pay attention and write down two facts from each video, one that you found interesting, and one that you think everyone should know. Hope you enjoy!

Photo Story Blog

This video I have just added is a Photo Story presentation of famous landmarks from around the world. In the future I would like to teach Geography or World History, so this video could be used as an aid to a presentation I would give to my middle school students. Hope you enjoy!

About Me

I have never blogged before so this is bound to be an... well, interesting experience! Actually, I am more of a journal person, I prefer to write things down so I can go back and look at them later. In fact, I still have some of my old journals from middle school that I flip though whenever I want to laugh! Middle school was quite an interesting time for me. I went to a private Christian school for seventh and eighth grade and those two years had the greatest impact on my life. During that time I was emotional, and very insecure- my poor parents! It seemed like those two years were roller coasters, a really great day followed by a horrible day, and yet looking back, I can not seem to remember what was so horrible or what was so great!

One thing I do remember though were my middle school teachers. My math teacher was fantastic. She not only was a good math teacher, but she cared about her students. My friends and I always felt comfortable talking with her about our lives, and she never laughed at what I am sure were some very ridiculous worries. I also remember my history teacher, and it is from her that I gained my love for history. She had fun ways to teach us all about the different time periods we were learning about. When we studied the Revolutionary War we read a historical novel, during our unit on the Great Depression we played the stock market, and during our lessons on World War II she arranged for two WWII veterans to come in an talk with us.

I will never forget my seventh and eighth years. I had such a wonderful experience with my teachers that they greatly influenced my career choice. When I become a middle school history teacher I want my students to have as much fun in my class as I had in my middle school history class. History should not be boring and history homework should not require huge essays. As a teacher I want to not only teach history well, but take an interest in my students lives. Middle school students need someone to care about them, and I want to be that person.

About Me

Hello!